It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Ohio Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
Our analysis looked at 64 schools in Ohio to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. While associate degree recipients from schools in Ohio earn an average starting salary of $35,544, those from the top 21 school on this list made an average of $38,950.
Starting Salary ( 27314 to 48920 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well.
When attending a school in Ohio, associate degree students accumulate an average of $21,357 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top associate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Our 2024 rankings named University of Cincinnati - Main Campus the best school in Ohio in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from UC make an average of $40,605 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,534 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $150 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in Ohio list means University of Northwestern Ohio is a great place for students working on their degree. University of Northwestern Ohio is located in Lima, Ohio and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 953 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,118 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,164 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $279 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 64 associate degree schools in Ohio that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Gateway Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Steubenville, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,643 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Eastern Gateway Community College go into careers with an average salary of $40,112 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,562 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at Kent State University at Stark helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Ohio. Kent State University at Stark is a public institution located in North Canton, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 765 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,541 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,988. Average monthly loan payments are around $215 for a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in Ohio list means Ohio State University - Main Campus is a great place for students working on their degree. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 2 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $24,754 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,043 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $183 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking, coming in at #6. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 864 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,965 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,890 in student loans.
With a ranking of #7, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 340 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from University of Akron Main Campus make an average of $30,059 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $21,019. Average monthly loan payments are around $302 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Xavier University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
Sinclair Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. This fairly large public school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 2,238 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,654 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,627 after getting their degree.
Franciscan University of Steubenville ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. Franciscan U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Steubenville, Ohio. It awarded 47 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $26,068 after getting their degree.
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 118 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from OHIO Athens is $33,166 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,460 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $231 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #12, Herzing University - Akron did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. Herzing Akron is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 89 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Herzing Akron make an average of $37,659 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $31,398. Average monthly loan payments are around $107 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Rio Grande did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking, coming in at #13. University of Rio Grande is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rio Grande, Ohio. It awarded 245 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from University of Rio Grande is $39,058 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,532 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #14, James A Rhodes State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. Rhodes State College is located in Lima, Ohio and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 365 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Rhodes State College go into careers with an average salary of $39,575 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,202 in student loans.
Clark State Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Springfield, Ohio, the small public school handed out 529 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Clark State Community College go into careers with an average salary of $40,566 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $24,859.
University of Toledo came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 91 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
With a ranking of #17, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, the fairly large public school awarded 105 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Youngstown State University go into careers with an average salary of $81,522 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,244.
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio list. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,410 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,796 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,326.
Ohio Christian University landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking. OCU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Circleville, Ohio. It awarded 178 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,727 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $26,597 after getting their degree.
Zane State College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking. Zanesville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 301 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,158 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,450.
Central Ohio Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking. Located in Newark, Ohio, the small public school awarded 406 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from COTC go into careers with an average salary of $35,682 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $15,710.
Lorain County Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking. Located in Elyria, Ohio, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,443 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from LCCC go into careers with an average salary of $37,783 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,842.
Ohio Dominican University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Owens Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking, coming in at #24. Owens Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Perrysburg, Ohio that handed out 1,045 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,221 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $19,700.
North Central State College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Ohio ranking. North Central State College is a public institution located in Mansfield, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 321 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,228 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,933 after getting their degree.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.